SWAN Week 2026, September 14–18, celebrates the impact of Skin Wellness Associate Nurses (SWANs) in advancing wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) care across Canada. This year’s theme highlights the leadership, competency, and day-to-day contributions of SWANs in every care setting — and the important role they play in advancing quality improvement throughout our health care system.

NSWOCC is proud to be an educational partner of WoundWISE and share two upcoming educational opportunities on behalf of their organization in Southwestern Ontario this fall.

It is with profound sadness that NSWOCC and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Institute share the passing of Norena Gonzales, RN, BScN, NSWOC, WOCC(C), on August 16, 2026, following a courageous journey with cancer.

On June 21, NSWOCC joins people across Canada in recognizing National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to celebrate the rich cultures, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. As we mark this important day, NSWOCC reaffirms its commitment to advancing Truth and Reconciliation and supporting equitable access to culturally safe wound, ostomy, and continence care for Indigenous Peoples across Canada. Advancing Indigenou

CEO Axelle Pellerin will be taking a scheduled leave of absence as part of her maternity leave beginning Monday, June 22, 2026

Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC®), in collaboration with the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP™), is pleased to announce the launch of a new Evidence-Based Skin Tear Assessment and Classification Toolkit for Indigenous Skin Tones, developed to support culturally safe, equitable, and person-centred skin tear assessment and management for Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

NSWOCC proudly announced the induction of the 2026 NSWOCC Fellows during the WCET®-NSWOCC® Joint Congress Gala and Banquet held on April 25, 2026, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Fellowship Program recognizes exceptional leaders whose sustained contributions have advanced wound, ostomy and continence nursing through clinical excellence, education, mentorship, research, advocacy, and professional leadership across Canada and internationally.

We are pleased to share our 2026 Executive Board and Board Directors for the upcoming term! Congratulations to those who have been elected.

From May 11–17, 2026, NSWOCC joins the CNA to celebrate National Nursing Week—a time to recognize the extraordinary contributions of nurses and the essential role they play in transforming health care across the country.

Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC®) is pleased to announce the appointment of Axelle Pellerin, MBA, BA, as the association’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2026. Axelle succeeds Cathy Harley, who served NSWOCC as Executive Director and later Chief Executive Officer for 22 years, since joining the organization in 2004.

Attendees came together across three March dates at The Hotel Saskatchewan (March 24), The Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre (March 26), and the Chateau Louis Hotel and Conference Centre (March 31). Each session centred on a shared goal: strengthening clinical skills “from cleanse to close” through hands-on, best practice–driven education.

Four months after the release of the Canadian Best Practice Recommendations in Wound Care for People Who Use Drugs: A Harm Reduction Approach, this podcast offers an opportunity to revisit not just what was created—but why it was created, and how.

At Ostomy Canada Youth Camp children and teens living with an ostomy or bowel or bladder diversion surgery discover they’re not alone.

NSWOC Week 2026 is fast approaching and our theme this year is: Quality Improvement Starts With NSWOCs!

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 Time: 4:15 PM – 5:45 PM PDT (7:15 PM - 8:45 PM EDT)

The NSWOCC Membership Award recognizes NSWOCC Members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the field of wound, ostomy, and continence care.

WoundWISE™ Hands-On Wound Care Skills is coming to Western Canada!

We are inviting members to complete the NSWOCC Retirement Recognition & Notification Form—either for themselves or on behalf of a colleague who is planning to retire or has recently retired.

The NSWOCC Fellowship is the highest professional honour awarded by Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), recognizing certified NSWOCs who have demonstrated exceptional and sustained leadership, innovation, and contributions to clinical practice, education, research, and policy. Fellows earn the FNSWOC designation, a mark of distinction that reflects expertise, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to advancing wound, ostomy, and continence nursi

The Government of Canada has announced the 2026 theme for Black History Month:“30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”